Nathaniel lay on a dirty old mattress, faded and stained over time. He was shirtless, revealing skin that remained flawless. The pants he wore barely clung to his lean frame, the fabric hanging loosely around his hips as if they were reluctant to embrace the body they were meant to cover.
He stared at his hand in deep contemplation, the creases of his palm reflecting the weight of his thoughts. After a moment of introspection, he signed to himself, in frustration. "I'm definitely not human, that's for sure," he exclaimed, his voice laced with a mixture of disbelief and resignation. The recent confrontation with what he now understood to be Batman had illuminated a harsh reality—he was not just different; he was fundamentally other, an outlier in the world.
The electric jolt that had surged through him that night, was a painful reminder that his body struggled to cope with such forces, leaving him reeling. He shivered at the memory, the electric currents still echoing in his mind like a haunting siren, urging him to flee into the shadows. It left behind a phantom pain in his core, a lingering sensation that twisted uncomfortably.
Nathaniel sighed deeply, his breath escaping in a visible puff of condensation as he approached the broken window of the deserted apartment he had chosen to inhabit for the time being. The space felt cold and empty, echoing with memories of a life long forgotten, whispers of laughter and warmth that had long since faded. He took a moment to stretch, his muscles awakening from their weary state, feeling the stiffness dissipate, and with a swift motion, he leaped through the jagged opening. In that instant, his body contorted and shifted, shrinking as soft feathers erupted from his skin in a flurry of transformation.
The metamorphosis was both exhilarating and strange, a dance of freedom that he had come to embrace. Before he knew it, he had become an eagle, the transformation igniting a fire within him. He soared upwards, feeling the rush of the wind beneath his powerful wings, embracing the exhilarating freedom that came with his new form, the world below shrinking into a tapestry of colors.
He glided for some time, relishing the sense of weightlessness, before swooping down into a nearby park, plunging towards the closest bush with precision and grace. In a heartbeat, he transformed back into what others would recognize as human, the ground solidifying beneath his feet.
Concealed among the dense foliage, he squinted as he searched for his best opportunity for a satisfying meal and nicer garments. His gaze persisted in following the figures of the locals, assessing their movements with keen eyes, scrutinizing their attire to gauge their wealth and vulnerability. Eventually, his attention settled on a man who was engrossed in his phone, oblivious to the world around him.
Nodding to himself with a sense of determination, Nathaniel burst forth from his hiding place, rushing towards the unsuspecting man with a predator's instinct. In that singular moment, as he drew near, his hand slipped deftly into the man's pocket, retrieving a small but valuable item before he darted away like a shadow, leaving the man none the wiser to the theft that had just occurred. The thrill of the chase coursed through him, electrifying his veins as he blended seamlessly into the bustling surroundings, his heart racing with the exhilaration of his audacity.
Rushing back to his apartment, Nathaniel examined his haul with a mixture of satisfaction and urgency: a wallet containing two hundred and twenty dollars, a driver's license, and an ID belonging to one Hudson Lamar.
Tossing the license aside with a flick of his wrist, he scanned the ID, realizing it would prove useful for his future escapades, a tool in a game where he would be both predator and prey.